Augustana (Ill.) Blanks Carthage, 28-0, on Nov. 2

On a cool, overcast day in Kenosha, Wis., the Carthage College football team (1-7, 0-5 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) lost to CCIW-opponent Augustana College (Ill., 5-3, 3-2 CCIW), 28-0, on Nov. 2 at Art Keller Field in Kenosha, Wis.

Augustana took a 14-0 lead in the first period. The Vikings scored on their initial drive that covered 71 yards on nine plays, ending with a seven-yard pass from Samuel Frasco to Sean Fitzgerald at 10:30. Augustana's second first-period touchdown came on a seven-play, 97-yard scoring drive. A 39-yard pass from Chris Salazar to Fitzgerald was the key play of that drive, which ended with a one-yard touchdown carry by Brandon Price at 1:17.

The Vikings made it a 21-0 game just as the half ended. A 23-yard punt return by Sean Walker set things up and left the ball on the Carthage 35-yard line. Eight plays later, Salazar hooked up with Nick Krantz on a nine-yard TD pass with nine second remaining. Augustana closed out the scoring at 3:49 third period with a four-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Salazar to Krantz.

Augustana rolled up 418 total offensive yards, 204 yards rushing and 214 yards passing, while Carthage had 302 total yards, 64 on the ground and 238 passing. Vikings quarterback Chris Salazar completed 10-of-13 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, with Nick Krantz catching three passes for 123 yards. Samuel Frasco ran for 71 yards on five carries.

"You can't turn the ball over, "said Carthage coach Mike Yeager, "and you can't give up big plays. When you play against the triple option, you have to be very disciplined. We gave up a couple of big plays to their passing game early, and that led to scores. We played better late in the game, but it was too late. We moved the ball well, but we either turned it over, or we just didn't convert on key situations. We did some good things, but we need to be more consistent throughout the game. Pete Djurickovic did a nice job today and ran some good routes. He had some nice catches and played tough all day."

Carthage travels to Elmhurst, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 9 for a 1 p.m. game with CCIW-opponent Elmhurst College at Langhorst Field.